Department for Transport

Biomethane

The Earl of Dundee: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Department of Transport and DEFRA are taking any joint steps to support UK farming communitiesto harness methane emissions to be used as renewable biomethane fuel for buses, trains and trams along with digestates capable of enriching soils and sequestering carbon; and if so, what are any such steps.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation scheme was amended in 2015, to reward biomethane used in transport and non-road mobile machinery, on the basis of its energy content rather than volume. As a consequence, biomethane is eligible to receive 1.9 Renewable Transport Fuel Certificates (RTFCs) per kilogram, an increase on 1 RTFCs per kilogram, and double that number when produced from wastes such as manure. The Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS) will open to applicants in Autumn 2021 for four years. The GGSS will provide tariff support for biomethane injection into the gas grid, and will encourage the use of waste feedstocks, including agricultural wastes, to produce the biomethane. The scheme will include a payment formula, which allows biomethane producers to split payments between the GGSS and the Department for Transport’s (DfT’s) Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), enabling different consignments of biomethane to receive payments from either the GGSS or the RTFO within the same quarter. To encourage good use of digestate produced during biomethane production, scheme participants will be required to dispose of the digestate using low emission techniques when spreading on land.

Biomethane

The Earl of Dundee: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of biomethane to assist hydrogen transport; what plans they have to utilise biomethane gas from farms and cities to fuel (1) trains, (2) trams, and (3) buses, until the cost of green hydrogen can be reduced to a competitive level; what estimate they have made of the impact of any such plans on the level of (a) the income experienced by farmers, and (b) soil quality and nutrition; andwhat assessment they have made of the use of biomethane as an energy source for cities.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Hydrogen is already powering vehicles in use on UK roads, including buses. We will set out its important role across all forms of transport, including trams and trains, in our ambitious Transport Decarbonisation Plan, due to be published this spring. The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation helps promote a market for a broad range of low carbon fuels, and renewable hydrogen and biomethane are already eligible for support through it for transport. We have made no specific assessment of the use of biomethane as a bridge to future hydrogen transport applications or on the impacts of that on farmers, soil quality or nutrition. The BEIS-led Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS), will open to applicants in Autumn 2021 for four years and will provide tariff support for biomethane injection into the gas grid as a potential energy source for cities.

Roads: Exhaust Emissions

The Earl of Dundee: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce particulate pollution from urban traffic; and what assessment they have made (1) of the report by University College London and Harvard University et alGlobal mortality from outdoor fine particle pollution generated by fossil fuel combustion, published on 9 February,and (2)in particular the finding that exposure to fossil fuel airpollution accounts for 18 to 21.5 per cent of global deaths each year.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Our landmark Environment Bill introduces a duty to set a legally binding target for fine particulate matter, in addition to a further long-term air quality target. Achieving these targets will require action on a wide range of sources, including urban traffic and fossil fuel combustion. Specific measures will depend on what targets are set and ultimately the pathway and approach to achieving the targets. We will be carrying out a public consultation on proposed targets, which is likely to commence in early 2022.

Transport: Exhaust Emissions

The Earl of Dundee: To ask Her Majesty's Government what metrics they use to calculate the emissions from transport run on (1) hydrogen, (2) biomethane, (3) biogas, and (4) electricity, when allocating funding for transport infrastructure; andwhat plans they have to publish their methodology.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: In general, emissions specifically from hydrogen, biomethane and biogas are not estimated when allocating funding for transport infrastructure, as they account for a very small share of the energy used by transport. However, the blending of biofuels in petrol and diesel is accounted for more generally, including in the emission estimates presented in the Department for Transport’s TAG data-book, which is used for transport appraisal. Where the use of these fuels is important, for example funding to support their uptake, estimates of their g/CO2e are based on the latest scientific analysis and evidence, including emissions across the well-to-wheel cycle wherever possible, as well as from indirect land-use. There are no plans to publish further details on methodologies at this stage, but these will be shared alongside policy proposals where appropriate, and in the event that these were important to funding decisions. Estimates of kg CO2e/kWH from electricity used in transport are based on emission factors published by BEIS, and presented in the Department for Transport’s TAG data-book.

Electric Vehicles

Lord Porter of Spalding: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide (1) additional support to councils to electrify their vehicles, and (2) councils with advice on how they can achieve electrification of their vehicles.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Local authorities and other public sector bodies are increasingly supporting the transition to zero emission vehicles, including electrifying their own fleets. The Government funds the Energy Saving Trust (EST) to run the Local Government Support Programme, which provides impartial advice to local authorities in England on fleet electrification, and wider local policies to support zero emission vehicle uptake. EST also provides a fleet management toolkit to any public or private organisation, which offers in-depth, impartial fleet support to help them reduce costs and limit the environmental impact of their fleet. Government’s ULEV Readiness Programme was launched in January 2015 and as well as funding charging infrastructure, supported 296 ultra-low emission vehicles across the public sector, including 90 in local authorities. It also offered fleet reviews to 35 Public Sector Bodies (including Local Authorities, NHS Trusts and Fire and Rescue Services). We will continue to work with and encourage local authorities to electrify their fleets and to apply for available funding for chargepoints in their local areas.

Electric Vehicles: Charging Points

Lord Porter of Spalding: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the roleoflocal councils in delivering electric vehicle charging infrastructure to meet the Government’s 2030 target to end the sale of new diesel and petrol cars in the UK.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Local councils have an important role to play in the transition to zero emission driving and we are working with them to phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030. The Government’s On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) is available to all UK local authorities to provide charging infrastructure for those without private parking. More than 105 local authorities have already taken advantage of the scheme, funding more than 3,800 chargepoints. We encourage local authorities to apply for funding to provide chargers for their residents. We provided £40 million of funding via our Go Ultra Low city scheme to 8 cities across the UK, to support uptake of ultra low emission vehicles in those cities. Over 3,500 chargepoints were installed as part of this scheme. Bristol, London, Milton Keynes and Nottingham have been delivering ambitious plans to become global exemplars of ultra low emission vehicle uptake.  The scheme also provided £5 million of development funding for specific initiatives in Dundee, Oxford, York and the North East region. The Government has committed £90 million at Spending Review to fund local electric vehicle charging infrastructure, in particular to support the roll out of larger, on-street charging schemes and rapid hubs in England. Later this year, the Government will publish an electric vehicle Infrastructure Strategy, which will explore the roles and responsibilities for central government and wider stakeholders involved in the deployment of charging infrastructure. As part of this, we will be engaging with local authorities, charge point operators and other stakeholders to ensure that future charging infrastructure is practical, accessible and deliverable.

Hammersmith Bridge: Repairs and Maintenance

Lord Goodlad: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to expedite the re-opening of Hammersmith Bridge.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: As owners of Hammersmith Bridge, the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (LBHF) is responsible for the maintenance, repair and decision-making on its upkeep. The Government has ensured that £4 million is being spent on the stabilisation and repair of the bridge via the TfL Extraordinary Funding and Financing package agreed on 31 October 2020. This has funded mitigation works which will give us a better insight into the condition of the bridge and de-risk the overall works programme, helping expedite the long-term repairs. This is a vital step before any other engineering works can be undertaken. We have commissioned engineering experts to assess the condition of the bridge and their reports suggested the logic keeping the bridge entirely closed could be revisited following the above works. We continue to explore this possibility with LBHF and their engineering consultants. We recognise there needs to be a temporary solution in place for residents to be able to cross the river whilst the bridge is closed. As part of the TfL bailout last October we provided funding to TfL to set up and run a ferry service. We have received outline financing options for the long-term bridge repair from LBHF but require much more detail before they can be properly assessed. We are working with the borough to develop these options further.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Small Businesses: Coronavirus

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of small businesses which are not eligible for COVID-19 Government grants; and what steps they are taking to reduce that number.

Lord Callanan: The government engages with a range of stakeholders to understand the reach and scope of the grant support that has been made available. All small business premises that have been mandated in legislation to close are able to access grant support including up to £4,500 per six weeks of closure. For those small businesses that have not been mandated to close, £2bn of funding via the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) has been made available to Local Authorities to develop business support, including grants, that suits their local area. Local Authorities provide regular data reports on the number and value of grants they are making across all grant schemes available, and this is available on the GOV.UK website.

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government which government department was responsible for approving Greensill Capital as a lender under theCoronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme; and whether in making this decision they took advice from any other government department or regulatory agency.

Lord Callanan: The British Business Bank is responsible for accrediting lenders to the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS). Greensill Capital (UK) Limited were approved by the British Business Bank for CBILS and the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme last year in accordance with its published guidance on accreditation.

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Callanan on 17 December 2020 (HL 11087), whether they continue to believe that it would not be the best use of public resources to publish the names of firms borrowing under theCoronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.

Lord Callanan: Details of facilities made available under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme will be published where required by the European Commission’s Transparency Aid Module.

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government which government agency was responsible for monitoring the activities of Greensill Capital under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme; and whether in their monitoring duties they involved or sought advice from any other government department or regulatory agency.

Lord Callanan: All accredited lenders across the three Covid-19 loan schemes (the Bounce Back Loan Scheme, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme) are subject to audit by the British Business Bank to ensure their compliance with scheme rules. The British Business Bank has appointed KPMG and RSM to undertake annual audits of each accredited lender under the schemes. The audit programme has been established to provide assurance as to whether the participating lenders are administering the schemes in line with guarantee agreements entered into with lenders, as well as other agreed rules and procedures of the schemes. An audit review panel within the British Business Bank has been established as the governing body that provides direction and subsequent actions based on findings from the audits. The panel’s responsibilities include reviewing all draft audit reports to determine remediation actions required by lenders. The panel also monitors auditor performance and agrees the strategy for the following year with respect to operational audits.

Bereavement Leave: Costs

Lord Knight of Weymouth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the cost to employers of Parental Bereavement Leave since April 2020.

Lord Callanan: Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay was introduced in April 2020. The Impact Assessment carried out by the Department (copy attached) estimated that annual costs to employers of the policy would be £2.6m, with an additional £4.8m in one-off costs for employers to familiarise themselves with the policy when it was introduced.Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay IA (pdf, 264.6KB)

Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus: Travel

Lord Balfe: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 8 February (HL12760), whether there are any (1) financial, or (2) other, arrangements for private providers to be admitted totheirlist of COVID-19 test providers; how companies are admitted to that list; and what ongoing inspection takes place to ensure that they meet appropriate standards.

Lord Bethell: There are no financial or other arrangements for private providers to be added the list of providers. Any provider may submit a self-declaration stating that their full end-to-end process meets the minimum standards set out in legislation. Following the review of these self-declarations by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), the provider may be added to the list of private testing providers, subject to their meeting the minimum standards. This is the first stage of a three-stage assessment process in order to attain full UKAS accreditation.

Coronavirus: Exercise

Baroness Scott of Needham Market: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they recommend graded exercise therapy for patients with post COVID-19 symptoms.

Lord Bethell: On 18 December 2021 the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network published a guideline on the management of the long term effects of COVID-19. A copy of COVID-19 rapid guideline: managing the long-term effects of COVID-19 is attached. In developing the guideline, an expert panel undertook an evidence review into self-pacing and graded forms of exercise.The panel considered the careful self-pacing of exercise to be an important element of self-management. However, they concluded that in the absence of evidence relating to people with ongoing symptoms from COVID-19, it could not make specific recommendations. A copy of COVID-19 rapid guideline: managing the long-term effects of COVID-19 (NG188). Evidence review 5: interventions is attached. COVID-19 is a new disease and therefore it is not yet clear what the physical, psychological and rehabilitation needs will be for those experiencing long term effects of the virus.Covid-19 Rapid Guideline (pdf, 232.8KB)Covid-19 Rapid Guideline (pdf, 282.9KB)

Sally Davies

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what public responsibilities are currently held by Professor Dame Sally Davies.

Lord Bethell: Professor Dame Sally Davies was appointed to the unpaid role of United Kingdom Special Envoy on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in 2019. Dame Sally represents the UK internationally on the subject of AMR, engaging bilaterally and multilaterally through international organisations, including the United Nations and the World Bank. As Special Envoy, the responsibilities include: - Representing the UK on the United Nations' One Health Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance, a global governance structure to maintain public support and political momentum for AMR on the global agenda;- Working across all Government departments to advise on policy and delivery of a 'One Health' response to AMR, including health, agriculture and the environment;- Advising the UK Government on possible commitments to take forward on AMR through the UK's G7 Presidency in 2021; and- Acting as an ad hoc adviser to the UK Fleming Fund, the Global AMR Innovation Fund and other UK Government funded AMR activities overseas.

Carers: Living Wage

Baroness Browning: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of National Living Wage costs on care providers in the charitable sector.

Lord Bethell: The Department does not make separate assessments of the cost of the National Living Wage in respect of for-profit, local authority-run and not-for-profit providers, or at the level of individual providers.

Blood Tests: General Practitioners

Lord Balfe: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the clinical impact of GPs directing patients to dedicated blood test centres rather than carrying out such tests at local surgeries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lord Bethell: No formal assessment has been made. Offering blood tests has continued throughout the pandemic, with urgent tests being prioritised. However, infection control measures have necessitated changes to the model of delivery in some parts of the country. For some general practitioner practices, their own services will have been able to continue. For other practices, teams may have joined up to create a hub offer to provide extra capacity.

Department of Health and Social Care: Written Questions

Lord Balfe: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that questions for written answer from members of the House of Lords that are allocated to the Department for Health and Social Care are answered on time; and what plans they have to recruit more staff for that purpose.

Lord Bethell: The Department has received an unprecedented number of Written Questions since March 2020. We are working hard to improve our response rate through an iterative written questions recovery plan and performance is now improving at a steady rate. The core Department has increased by a further 400 posts since December 2020, to support the COVID-19 response across all areas.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatsteps they are takingto ensure that asylum seekers living in temporary accommodation receive COVID-19 vaccinations.

Lord Bethell: Vaccination against COVID-19 is offered to every adult living in the United Kingdom free of charge, regardless of immigration status. No immigration checks are needed to receive these services and the National Health Service is not required to report undocumented migrants to the Home Office.An NHS number is not needed to make a booking for a COVID-19 vaccine or when attending a vaccination appointment. If individuals are registered with a general practitioner (GP), their GP will contact them in due course.For those not registered with a GP, NHS regional teams working with various appropriate local systems will contact unregistered people to ensure they are offered the vaccine, when eligible.

Coronavirus: Nottinghamshire

Lord Mann: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people have been tested for COVID-19 in Nottinghamshire since the announcement of mass testing in November 2020.

Lord Bethell: The total number of people tested for COVID-19 in Nottinghamshire between 29 October 2020 and 27 January 2021 is 329,057.

Brain: Tumours

Lord Crisp: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to accelerate(1) the progress, and (2) the dissemination of the findings, of research into the (a) prevention, and (b) treatment, of brain tumours.

Lord Bethell: In 2018 we announced £40 million over five years to accelerate progress in brain tumour research. This was highlighted within the research community with workshops to support high quality brain tumour research applications.The findings of brain tumour research will be disseminated via the planned network of Tessa Jowell Centres of Excellence, presentations at conferences, publications in journals and through the National Institute for Health Research and its Centre for Engagement and Dissemination.

Department for Education

Special Educational Needs: Coronavirus

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have issued guidance (1) to schools, and (2) to parents of children who were shielding because of health conditions and who have Education and Health Care plans, concerning the return of these children to school from 8 March.

Baroness Berridge: On the 18 March 2021 the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England confirmed that clinically extremely vulnerable people (CEV), including children and young people, will no longer have to shield from COVID-19 from 1 April 2021 as virus infection rates continue to fall. Those on the shielded patient list will receive letters with updated guidance on the steps they can take to reduce their risk. All CEV pupils and students should attend their school or college from this date unless they are one of the very small number of pupils or students under paediatric or other specialist care and have been advised by their GP or clinician not to attend.To support schools during the COVID-19 outbreak the government has published guidance available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/schools-coronavirus-covid-19-operational-guidance. This contains advice for pupils and students who have been confirmed as clinically extremely vulnerable, including those with an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP). Additional guidance to support specialist settings has also been published throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-full-opening-special-schools-and-other-specialist-settings.The government has also provided guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people, including those who are CEV or who have an EHCP, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/what-parents-and-carers-need-to-know-about-early-years-providers-schools-and-colleges-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/what-parents-need-to-know-about-early-years-providers-schools-and-colleges-during-covid-19. Additional guidance on mental health and wellbeing is also available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-supporting-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health-and-wellbeing.The Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England on the 18 March 2021 released updated guidance for those who are clinically extremely vulnerable, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19.

Education and Vocational Guidance: Travellers

Baroness Whitaker: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to their white paper Skills for jobs: lifelong learning for opportunity and growth, published on 21 January, what steps they are taking (1) to ensure equality of opportunities for Gypsy, Traveller and Roma children and young people of compulsory education age who are out of school or not ineducation, employment or trainingto gain the Maths and English Level 2 qualifications required to access further education and training, including apprenticeships, and (2)to ensure that careers advice and guidance is accessible to Gypsy, Traveller and Roma students who have missed out on schooling; and what plans they have to ensure thatall Government-backed careers advisors receive training on Gypsy, Traveller and Roma culture.

Baroness Berridge: The participation age has been raised so that young people are now required to continue in education or training until their 18th birthday. Young people can do this through full-time education, a job or volunteering combined with part-time study, or by undertaking an apprenticeship or traineeship. The government has invested nearly £7 billion during the academic year 2020/21, to ensure there is a place in education or training for every 16 to 19 year old.Local authorities have a statutory duty to identify and track the participation of 16 and 17 year olds, supporting those who are not participating to do so and making sure that there is sufficient and suitable education and training provision to meet their needs.The September Guarantee places a further duty on local authorities to ensure that all year 11 pupils (and year 12 pupils on one year courses) receive an offer of a place in education or training for the following September. It aims to ensure that all young people, regardless of what they achieved in school, understand that there are opportunities that will help them to progress, and to ensure that they get the advice and support they need to find a suitable place.A range of provision is available for young people aged 16 to 24 to equip them with the skills and experience they need to progress. This includes traineeships, which provide unemployed young people with employability training, work experience and English and maths, and Supported Internships which offer tailored support for young people aged 16 to 25 who have special educational needs and disabilities.We know students who leave school with a good grasp of English and maths increase their chances of securing a job or going on to further education, which is why students who do not achieve a GCSE grade 4 at age 16 must continue to study these subjects in Post-16 (it is also known as the ‘condition of funding’). Students who just missed out on a GCSE grade 4 are given the opportunity to achieve a GCSE. We recognise that for students with prior attainment of a GCSE grade 2 or below, a level 2 Functional Skills qualification may be more appropriate.Alongside this, English and maths are crucial elements of a T Level and apprenticeship. Each T Level student and apprentice must ensure they have achieved a prescribed level of English and maths in order to successfully complete their programme.The government is committed to ensuring that young people and adults are provided with high-quality careers information, advice, and guidance, regardless of their background.We have provided specific support for pupils from disadvantaged groups such as Gypsy, Traveller and Roma, special educational needs, and looked after children. This includes investing over £1.7 million to test new approaches to broaden aspirations and raise awareness of pathways into training and work.Our statutory guidance, first introduced in September 2012, requires that schools secure independent and impartial careers guidance on the full range of education and training options.Members of the careers profession, including careers advisers are trained to give impartial careers, information, advice and guidance. They work closely with school leaders to develop careers plans that reflect a pupil’s personal circumstance. They also take into account a pupil’s background and aspirations when giving them impartial careers advice. We will continue working with members of the careers profession, including the Careers Development Institute, to ensure careers advisers and other professionals receive adequate training to enable them to deal with pupils from all backgrounds, including those from the traveller community.

Eleven Plus

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many pupils entered the 11-plus examination in (1) 2019, and (2) 2020.

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many pupils qualifying for Pupil Premium funding entered the 11-plus examination in (1) 2019, and (2) 2020.

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many pupils qualifying for Pupil Premium funding achieved a qualifying score or pass mark in the 11-plus examination in (1) 2019, and (2) 2020.

Baroness Berridge: The department does not hold this information. Selection tests are administered locally, and the department does not routinely collect information on individual tests.

Home Education

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide an update on the progress of the consultation on elective home education, including consideration on the introduction of legislation.

Baroness Berridge: In spring 2019, a consultation was held on proposals for a mandatory register of children not attending state or registered independent schools. This consultation was held in order to help local authorities carry out their responsibilities in relation to children not in school alongside the duty on parents to register their child with the local authority if not registered at specified types of schools, the duties on proprietors of certain education settings to respond to enquiries from local authorities, and the duty on local authorities to provide support to parents who educate children at home.The consultation closed on 24 June 2019 with nearly 5000 responses. Responses to the consultation have been considered and the government is committed to publishing the response in due course.

Children's Social Care Independent Review

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the scope of the Independent review of children’s social care includes consideration of possible changes to the service and protection rights of children and families provided under the Children Act 1989.

Baroness Berridge: The review’s terms of reference set out the questions and themes the review will consider. The Review themes and questions can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/952624/terms_of_reference_independent_childrens_social_care_review.pdf.They include:1. Support: what support is needed to meet the needs of children who are referred to or involved with social care, in order to improve outcomes and make a long-term positive difference to individuals and to society?2. Strengthening families: what can be done so that children are supported to stay safely and thrive with their families, to ensure the exceptional powers that are granted to the state to support and intervene in families are consistently used responsibly, balancing the need to protect children with the right to family life, avoiding the need to enter care?3. Safety: what can be done so that children who need to be in care get there quickly, and to ensure those children feel safe and are not at risk of significant harm?4. Care: what is needed for children to have a positive experience of care that prioritises stability, providing an alternative long-term family for children who need it and support for others to return home safely?5. Delivery: what are the key enablers to implement the review and raise standards across England, such as a strong, stable and resilient workforce, system leadership and partnerships, and what is needed so that this change can be delivered?6. Sustainability: what is the most sustainable and cost-effective way of delivering services, including high-cost services, who is best placed to deliver them, and how could this be improved so that they are fit for the future?7. Accountability: what accountability arrangements are necessary to ensure that the state can act appropriately, balancing the need to protect and promote the welfare of children with the importance of parental responsibility, and what is needed to ensure proper oversight of how local areas discharge those responsibilities consistently?Ultimately, the review has a broad remit. Josh MacAllister, the reviewer, is independent and it will be for him to look at the evidence presented to him and decide where change is needed.

Schools: Uniforms

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many parents who have been unable to resolve the issue of excessive school uniform costs with schools directly have raised that issue with the Department for Education in each of the last three academic years.

Baroness Berridge: The department does not centrally collect detailed information on the number of complaints received and the exact nature of the complaint. However, we have identified 25 complaints in the last three years for which school uniform was selected as the nature of the complaint. This figure includes complaints about aspects of school uniform other than cost and excludes complaints where school uniform is referenced but is not stated as the primary reason for the complaint.

Sustainable Development: Education

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide environmental training to primary and secondary school teachers to ensure they are equipped to teach sustainable development.

Baroness Berridge: The curriculum already includes a great deal about environmental and sustainability issues. From primary onwards, there is coverage of environmental matters in both the science and geography curricula. Under the key stage 2 non-statutory guidance for citizenship, pupils are taught about the wider world and the interdependence of communities within it. Pupils are taught that resources can be allocated in different ways and that these economic choices affect individuals, communities and the sustainability of the environment.As the national curriculum is a framework setting out the content of what the department expects schools to cover in each subject, teachers have the flexibility and freedom to determine how they deliver the content in the way that best meets the needs of their pupils. They can choose to cover particular topics in greater depth if they wish and as knowledge of sustainability develops, teachers can adapt their school curricula for these subjects.The department has made £4.84 million available for the Oak National Academy, both for the summer term of the 2019-20 academic year and for the 2020-21 academic year, to provide teachers with video lessons in a broad range of subjects for Reception up to year 11. These lessons and their accompanying resources include coverage of the environment, climate change and wider sustainability topics. To supplement their teaching, schools have access to a variety of resources on the teaching of science and geography.

Teachers: Coronavirus

Baroness Hodgson of Abinger: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether teachers are prioritisedto receivea COVID-19 vaccination regardless of age; and if not, what plans they have toprioritise teachers to receive such vaccinations.

Baroness Berridge: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) are the independent experts who advise the government on which vaccine/s the UK should use and provide advice on who should be offered them. The JCVI advises that the first priorities for the COVID-19 vaccination should be the prevention of mortality and the maintenance of the health and social care systems. As the risk of mortality from COVID-19 increases with age, prioritisation is primarily based on age.For phase 1, this will capture all those over 50 years of age and all those 16 years of age and over who are clinically extremely vulnerable or have certain underlying health conditions. This captures almost all preventable deaths from COVID-19 and will include thousands of staff in the education, childcare and children’s social care workforce.The JCVI has been asked by the Department for Health and Social Care to give its advice on the optimal strategy to further reduce mortality, morbidity and hospitalisation from COVID-19 disease for phase 2 of the vaccine rollout. The JCVI have advised that the second phase of vaccine prioritisation should continue to be based on age. They advise that an age-based approach remains the most effective way of reducing death and hospitalisation from COVID-19 and will ensure more people are protected more quickly. The second phase of the vaccine rollout will begin from mid-April and will aim to offer every adult aged 18 and over a first dose of the vaccine by 31 July 2021.

Alternative Education

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many alternative schools are registered; and what estimate they have made of the number of unregistered alternative providers.

Baroness Berridge: The Alternative Provision (AP) sector serves approximately 26,000 pupils across 348 state-place funded AP settings (pupil referral units, AP academies and AP free schools).As of 19 March 2021, there were 197 pupil referral units, 102 AP academies (74 converters and 28 sponsored) and 49 open AP free schools in England. Beyond this the sector is made up of other forms of AP, such as AP placements in independent schools (circa 29,500 pupils), post-16 providers offering pre-16 AP or charities.Many of these providers are unregistered, as they do not meet the threshold to register as a school. These small providers are commissioned by local authorities, mainstream and AP schools and offer a limited number of hours of training – often vocational – per week, supplementing the curriculum offered by the child or young person’s school. It is an offence under the Education and Skills Act 2008 to conduct unregistered AP if the provision offered meets the statutory definition of a “school”.

Apprentices: Assessments

Baroness Whitaker: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the percentage of apprentices required to complete Functional Skills Level 2 qualifications in (1) Maths, (2) English, and (3) Information and Communication Technology,during the course of their apprenticeship; and how this figure varies by ethnicity.

Baroness Berridge: We publish data which shows the number of apprentices enrolling on funded level 2 functional skills qualifications during their apprenticeship. We cannot determine if these qualifications are required in order to achieve the overall apprenticeship. We do not publish breakdowns of this data by ethnicity.Not all apprentices are required to achieve level 2 functional skills by the end of their apprenticeship. An apprentice may have already obtained the required level of English and maths for the apprenticeship either via GCSEs, functional skills qualifications, or accepted equivalent qualifications, prior to starting their apprenticeship. The current and prior qualifications accepted as meeting the minimum English and maths requirements for apprenticeships can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/english-and-maths-requirements-in-apprenticeship-standards-at-level-2-and-above.In general, level 2 apprentices without the required level of English and maths will need to achieve level 1 functional skills, and apprentices at level 3 and above will need to achieve level 2 functional skills. There are exceptions to the regular English and maths minimum requirements for people with special educational needs, learning difficulties or disabilities. These are set out in the apprenticeship funding rules: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apprenticeship-funding-rules. The achievement of information and communication technology functional skills is only a requirement of some apprenticeships.

Children's Social Care Independent Review: Public Appointments

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Berridge on 16 March (HL13849), for what reasons they redacted the section entitled ‘Terms of Reference and ways of working’ in the contract of the chair of the independent review of the children’s social care sector.

Baroness Berridge: It is usual practice, in line with The Cabinet Manual, to redact contracts where information is included relating to Cabinet agreement.The Cabinet Manual can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-manual.

Apprentices: Small Businesses

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase the number of apprentices for which small businesses who do not pay the apprenticeship levy can claim cash incentives.

Baroness Berridge: The government recognises the enormous value that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) contribute to the UK economy. SMEs will play a key role as we look to rebuild from the effects of COVID-19, and to increase opportunities for young people to embark on apprenticeships. In 2021-22 financial year, we are making available £2.5 billion to support apprenticeships in all employers, including employers that do not pay the levy who will continue to be able to reserve funding for 95% of apprenticeship training and assessment costs. From 1 April all SMEs arranging new apprenticeship starts will do so through the apprenticeship service, as levy payers do now, giving them more control over their apprenticeship choices and the ability to reserve funds before choosing the provider that best meets their needs. From 1 April, all non-levy employer reservation levels will be reset to zero, enabling each employer who does not pay the levy to make up to 10 new reservations to fund new starts in the 2021-22 financial year. As part of the government's Plan for Jobs, we have increased the incentive payments to £3,000, meaning that employers who do not pay the levy will be able to reserve funds and claim incentive payments for up to 10 new apprentices hired between 1 April and 30 September 2021. In 2020-21 financial year, funds transferred from employers who pay the levy to other employers are not included when measuring the number of reservations that smaller employers can make, so further incentive payments could be claimed for apprentices being funded through a transfer. From August 2021, levy-paying employers will be able to create a pledge of funds that they would like to make available for transfer. In August, we will also introduce a new online service to match levy payers with SMEs that share their business priorities allowing levy payers to support apprenticeships in their supply chains and help to meet local and regional skills needs.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Pakistan: Radicalism

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Pakistan about reports that extremist ideology has been taught in schools in that country.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: I recognise the concerns raised by minority groups in Pakistan that the introduction of a single curriculum may be used to marginalise some communities. Through our representation, the UK has made clear that there is a need for an inclusive curriculum, one that encompasses the rich diversity of Pakistan's communities and traditions. We are engaging with the Provincial and Federal Governments to ensure that the new curriculum promotes diversity and inclusion. Through our diplomatic network in Pakistan we have also engaged with young people to discuss the promotion of intolerance and inclusiveness. I will continue to scrutinise UK-funded education programmes in Pakistan to ensure they promote inclusive education.I discussed the need for inclusive and tolerant education when I met with Pakistan's Minister for Education, Mr Shafqat Mahmood on 1 October 2020, and with the Governor of Punjab, Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar, on 8 September 2020. I raised our concerns about Freedom of Religion or Belief and the protection of minority religious communities with Pakistan's Human Rights Minister, Dr Shireen Mazari, on 20 February 2021, and with Pakistan's Advisor to the Prime Minister on Accountability and Interior, Shahzad Akbar, on 7 December 2020.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what (1) discussions they have had with, and (2) representations they have made to, the government of Iran about the court proceedings against Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are using every diplomatic tool available to secure the immediate and permanent release of arbitrarily detained dual British nationals in Iran. We continue to raise Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's case at the most senior levels in the Iranian Government. We requested access to the hearing on 14 March, as we have done for previous hearings and will do for any future hearings. Iran routinely denies us access to these because they do not recognise Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe as a dual British national and view her as solely Iranian.The Foreign Secretary continues directly to press Foreign Minister Zarif for her release and the Prime Minister has raised this with President Rouhani, most recently on 10 March. Our Ambassador in Tehran consistently raises our detainees with the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, most recently on 15 March.

Palestinians: Road Traffic Offences

Baroness Sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning (1) the reported increase in the number of hit-and-run offences against Palestinians, and (2) the death of Bilal Bawatneh.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are aware of the reports surrounding the death of Bilal Bawatneh. Whilst we have not made representations on this particular case, the UK condemns any incidence of violence by settlers against Palestinians. We continue to stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population. We call on the Israeli authorities to thoroughly investigate every instance and allegation of crimes against protected persons in the West Bank, and where appropriate bring those responsible to justice.

Kashmir: Diplomatic Service

Viscount Waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 9 March (HL13631), whether a representative from the British High Commission was invited to attend the diplomatic visit to Indian-administered Kashmirorganised by the government of Indiain the week commencing 15 February.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The British High Commissioner was invited to attend the diplomatic visit to India-administered Kashmir organised by the Government of India in the week commencing 15 February. We regularly discuss the prospect of British High Commission officials visiting India-administered Kashmir and are working closely with the Government of India to identify a suitable opportunity to visit.

Kashmir: Diplomatic Service

Viscount Waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 9 March (HL13631),what assessmenttheBritish High Commission made of thediplomatic visit to Indian-administered Kashmirorganised by the government of Indiain the week commencing 15 February.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: According to a statement on the Government of India's Ministry of External Affairs website, the itinerary for the two-day trip covered Srinagar, Budgam and Jammu. Participants met some local representatives, civil society groups and residents of India-administered Kashmir, and received a briefing on the local security situation. The UK did not participate in this visit. We continue to work closely with the Indian authorities to identify the best opportunity for British High Commission representatives to visit Kashmir.

Occupied Territories: British Nationals Abroad

Baroness Sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 24 February (HL13287), what is their assessment of the involvement of UK citizens in the deaths of Palestinian citizens while serving with the Israeli Defence Forces.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We have not made an assessment of this issue. In instances where there have been accusations of excessive use of force, we continue to urge Israel to ensure that its investigations are transparent, swift and comprehensive. We also continue to stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population, in particular the need to protect children, and urge restraint in the use of live fire.

Ahmad Erekat

Baroness Sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the findings of the report by Forensic Architecture The Extrajudicial Execution of Ahmad Erekat, published on 23 February.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are aware of the report by Forensic Architecture: The Extrajudicial Execution of Ahmad Erekat, published on 23 February. We regularly raise the issue of the high numbers of Palestinians killed and injured by Israel Defense Forces in the West Bank and Gaza with the Israeli authorities, encouraging them to carry out transparent investigations into whether use of live fire had been appropriate.

Palestinians: Children

Baroness Sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the number of Palestinian children (1) killed, or (2) maimed, by (a) the Israeli Defence Forces, or (b) Israeli settlers, in the last five years.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The overall numbers of Palestinian and Israeli casualties are routinely reported in the FCDO's annual human rights and democracy report. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian affairs (OCHA) provide breakdowns of casualties, such as by age and gender. We continue to stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population, in particular the need to protect children, and urge restraint in the use of live fire. We condemn any incidence of violence by settlers against Palestinians. We welcome the efforts of Israeli authorities to address settler violence, and urge them to thoroughly investigate every instance and bring those responsible to justice.

Kashmir: Diplomatic Service

Viscount Waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 9 March (HL13631),which countries participated in thediplomatic visit to Indian-administered Kashmirorganised by the government of Indiain the week commencing 15 February.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: This is a matter for the Government of India. According to information on the Government of India's Ministry of External Affairs website (https://mea.gov.in/response-to-queries.htm?dtl/33544/Official_Spokespersons_response_to_media_queries_on_the_Visit_of_Foreign_Heads_of_Missions_to_Jammu_amp_Kashmir), Heads of Mission attended from Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Cote d'Ivore, Cuba, Estonia, Finland, European Union, Eritrea, France, Ghana, Italy, Ireland, Kyrgyz Republic, Malaysia, Malawi, Netherlands, Portugal, Senegal, Spain, Sweden and Tajikistan.

Integrated Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy Review

Baroness Goudie: To ask Her Majesty's Government how the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy will (1) take account of, and (2) address the links between social norms, gender discrimination and broader drivers of violence.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Integrated Review was published on 16 March and can be found on gov.uk. The review is the most comprehensive articulation of a defence, development, foreign and national security approach published by a British Government in decades.The UK is a world leader on advancing gender equality and women's rights. The Integrated Review reaffirms the Government's commitment to promote gender equality, working with women's rights organisations to tackle the discrimination, violence and inequality that hold women back. We will continue to be a progressive force for good, working across government, amplifying our development, diplomatic, defence and trade approaches to deliver for women and girls. We will work with partners, including women's rights organisations to build more open, inclusive and resilient societies, championing and supporting women's participation and empowerment.We will continue to champion gender equality in international fora, including through our Presidency of the G7, and our co-hosting of the Global Partnership for Education replenishment and of COP26, and we will challenge attempts to roll back rights globally. In our role as co-leader of the Global Action Coalition on Gender-Based Violence, we will use UK-funded evidence to drive coordinated, scaled-up global action and investment across the international system to prevent GBV and support survivors.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Lord Field of Birkenhead: To ask Her Majesty's Government to which (1) Commonwealth countries, and (2) non-Commonwealth countries, they have suppliedCOVID-19vaccines; andhow many COVID-19 vaccines each of those countries have received.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We have not directly provided COVID-19 vaccines to any country outside the UK, Crown Dependencies, and Overseas Territories. However, the UK is among the biggest donors to the COVAX facility, which is rolling out vaccines globally, including to low and middle income countries. We have committed £548 million to the COVAX Advance Market Commitment, which will contribute to the supply of at least 1.3 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines for up to 92 developing countries this year. All but two members of the Commonwealth are COVAX members, and 31 Commonwealth countries will be receiving vaccines in the first phase of the COVAX rollout (Ghana was the first COVAX recipient on 24 February 2021). The Prime Minister has confirmed that the UK will share the majority of any future surplus COVID-19 vaccines from our domestic supply with the COVAX procurement pool to support developing countries.

Mozambique: Terrorism

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the prevalence of Islamist insurgency in north-east Mozambique, and (2) the number of people displaced as a result of thatinsurgency.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is deeply concerned by the deteriorating security situation in northern Mozambique, and the increasing attacks by groups with links to Islamic extremism. To date, the insurgency has claimed over 2,000 lives and displaced over 670,000 people. We are working with the Government of Mozambique to address the root drivers of conflict and instability, including through engagement with the Government of Mozambique's regional development authority in Cabo Delgado, and by providing targeted technical assistance under the framework of a Defence Memorandum of Understanding. The UK has provided £19m of humanitarian and development support to internally displaced people in northeast Mozambique through UN agencies, ensuring they have access to food, shelter and basic healthcare.

Voluntary Service Overseas

Lord Goodlad: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for the future funding of the Voluntary Service Overseas.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The impact of the global pandemic on the UK economy has forced us to take the tough but necessary decision to temporarily reduce our aid budget.We are now working through the implications of these changes for all individual programmes and partners, including Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO).Volunteers and volunteering organisations like VSO make an important contribution. We have offered VSO a short-term funding extension for the Volunteering for Development programme, while the review process continues.

Home Office

Social Media: Offences against Children

Lord Gilbert of Panteg: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to facilitate the sharing of information on child abuse between social media companies; and whether such plans will include reforming data protection law.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: We are working across Government and engaging industry to prevent all forms of online child sexual exploitation and abuse. The Government is continuing to engage with technology companies around the Voluntary Principles to Counter Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, a framework of principles launched by the Five Country Ministerial partners in March 2020. These are a set of 11 actions tech firms should take to ensure children are not sexually exploited on their platforms, Principle 10 includes how companies should support opportunities to share relevant expertise, helpful practices, data and tools where appropriate and feasible. The Technology Coalition brings together companies across the technology industry, including social media companies, and have announced their work on Project Protect. Project Protect sets out their plans for technological innovation and sharing best practices across industry to prevent and eradicate child sexual exploitation and abuse. Government officials are engaging with the Technology Coalition on their priorities and upcoming work on this project. Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport has recently published a £2.4m Invitation to Tender for a new project to address barriers to data sharing and support innovation and competition in the detection of online harm, as part of the National Data Strategy. As part of the project, the provider will analyse the current data landscape and the economic and social benefits of opening up online harms data, and then test a number of potential practical solutions. The Government and the Information Commissioner’s Office keep legislation under constant review to ensure it keeps pace with technical and societal changes. There are powers in the Data Protection Act 2018, overseen by Parliament, to make changes using secondary legislation where appropriate.

Sarah Everard

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the actions of the Metropolitan Police at a vigil in memory of Sarah Everard at Clapham Common on 13 March.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Following events surrounding the vigil in memory of Sarah Everard on Clapham Common, the Home Secretary asked for an immediate full report from the Metropolitan Police, which she received on Sunday 14 March. The Home Secretary felt there were still questions to be answered and – in the interest of confidence in policing - has asked HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services to look into what happened in more detail. It would be inappropriate for Government to comment further until the report is complete.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Musicians: EU Countries

Lord Black of Brentwood: To ask Her Majesty's Government which EU Member States they have spoken to since 1 January about touring arrangements for musicians; and whether any of the solutions relating (1) to visas, and (2) to work permits advocated by music organisations sitting on the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport's Cultural Renewal Taskforce Working Groups were discussed at those meetings.

Baroness Barran: This Government understands that the cultural and creative sectors rely on the ability to move people across borders quickly, simply, and with minimal cost and administration. Touring is a vital part of musicians’ and performers’ careers, providing not only a vital income stream, but also enriching opportunities for cultural exchange across the world.The UK’s rules for touring creative professionals are more generous than many EU Member States. Our proposals remain on the table and our door is open if the EU is willing to reconsider its position.We are now working urgently across government and in collaboration with the music and wider creative industries, including through the DCMS-led working group, to look at the issues and options, to help the sectors resume touring with ease as soon as it is safe to do so.We will engage with bilateral partners to find ways to make life easier for those working in the creative industries in countries across the EU. We will prioritise seeking to ensure all Member States’ public guidance around existing rules is simple and accessible.

Culture Recovery Fund

Baroness Bull: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made ofwhetherthe level of funding(1) creative freelancers, and(2) arts institutions, receive from the Cultural Recovery Fund is sufficient to meet requirements; and what comparative analysis they have made of the efficacy of such funding distributedin (a) England, (b) Northern Ireland, (c) Scotland, and (d) Wales.

Baroness Barran: As a proportion of the funding is yet to be disbursed we cannot yet comprehensively assess the CRF’s success. However, so far, over £1 billion worth of funding from the Culture Recovery Fund has been allocated, including over £800 million to almost 3800 arts, culture and heritage organisations in England, helping to support at least 75,000 jobs. Freelancers have been supported through the Fund so far and this is on top of support from Arts Council England, who have made over £51 million of awards to individuals through non-CRF funds in this financial year alone. £400 million was held back from the first round as contingency and now forms the basis of the second round of grant (£300m) and repayable finance (£100m) funding. Applications have been assessed and an announcement will be made in due course. Additionally, the Chancellor announced in the 2021 Budget an additional £300 million for the Culture Recovery Fund, showing an unprecedented commitment to support the sector during this pandemic. The Culture Recovery Fund as a whole also included £188 million for the devolved administrations via the Barnett formula: Northern Ireland (£33 million), Scotland (£97 million) and Wales (£59 million). We know that Scotland, Wales and NI are also deeply committed to their arts, culture, and heritage sectors and have provided a range of support funding, building on and including the CRF allocation.